Arrow: Scoop on John Barrowman (Malcolm)'s return from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Arrow from this week's (Posted on 4/26/17) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Anything about John Barrowman’s return to Arrow? —Rory
Ausiello: Only that A) he still slips oh-so-easily into the lair, and 2) he stands to be either friend or frenemy to Team Arrow as the Prometheus arc hits its climax. “The last time Oliver and Malcolm saw each other, Malcolm helped them at the end of Season 4 — but he also went after Oliver’s son in the middle of Season 4,” showrunner Wendy Mericle reminds. “So always with Malcolm, you never know where you stand. You’re always a little bit off balance even if you think he’s on your side.”

Link to the full article:‘The Walking Dead Season 8: New Characters Dillon and Abbud | TVLine

Arrow: Scoop on John Barrowman's future on the show and casting related scoop on season 4 from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Arrow from this week's (Posted on 6/24/15) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Is John Barrowman returning to Arrow next season? It seemed like Malcolm was kind of written out in the finale. —Joel
Ausiello: Not only is Barrowman returning, but he will retain his series-regular status.

Question: Got anything on Arrow? —April
Ausiello: The show is getting around to filling Starling City’s mayoral vacancy (R.I.P., Celia Castle). Producers are looking for a fiftysomething actress to play Patty, a candidate for mayor and a longtime friend of Moira’s; as such, she  was once close with Oliver and Thea. Here’s some noisy spitballing from Mitovich: “Hey, maybe Moira once confided in Patty that she years ago paid off Oliver’s baby mama to leave town…?” Thanks, MM. Check’s in the mail.

Link to the full article:‘Supernatural’ Season 11 Spoilers: New Femme Fatale Character Amara | TVLine

Arrow: Malcolm related scoop from Entertainment Weekly's Natalie Abrams

Here's some scoop on Arrow from Entertainment Weekly's Natalie Abrams' The Spoiler Room column, which was posted on 3/6/15.

Is Ra’s al Ghul still planning to kill Malcolm Merlyn on Arrow? — Harold
If he doesn’t, it sounds like Laurel and Nyssa might. While discussing Malcolm’s future on the show, executive producer Andrew Kresiberg happened to mention that Laurel and Nyssa will bond during upcoming episodes. Seeing as they both have it out for Malcolm for his role in Sara’s death, I’d put money on them teaming up to get justice.

Link to the full article:Spoiler Room: Scoop on 'Jane,' 'Bones,' 'Once,' and more | EW.com

Arrow: Malcolm related scoop on season 3 from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Arrow from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 6/3/14.

Liam: Hit me up with some scoop on Arrow, would ya?
You got it! Prepare to see a different side of former (and current?) baddie Malcolm Merlyn when season three kicks off. "Malcolm's losing everybody around him in his life for whatever reason…he figured out the last reason he lost Tommy was because he became emotionally connected to somebody. Malcolm can control everybody physically or with money, what's really interesting now is Malcolm needs to learn how to control people emotionally so he doesn't lose anybody now," John Barrowman previewed for us. "That's what he he's doing with Thea now because she's at her emotional low. Malcolm needs to build his family back around him, whoever that may be. He needs Thea as much as she needs him."

Link to the full article:Spoiler Chat: Scoop on Revenge, Pretty Little Liars, The Bachelor, Once Upon a Time and More! | E! Online

Arrow: Malcolm and Thea related scoop on season 3 from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Arrow from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 5/21/14.

Cody: I am so happy to hear John Barrowman will be a series regular when Arrow comes back! What can we expect to see?
A whole lot of father-daughter bonding (or fighting!) between Malcolm and Thea! "I can't wait to have some training sequences between father and daughter," John Barrowman tells us. "Let's see what will happen when he's teaching her to be a tough cookie. She's already tough, but he's going to hone all that in and make her a tough bitch. That's what he's got to make her." Ugh, is it October yet?!

Link to the full article:Spoiler Chat: Scoop on Teen Wolf, Sons of Anarchy, Revenge, Arrow and More! | E! Online

Arrow: Malcolm Merlyn related scoop and more from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Arrow from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 4/30/14.

Chuck: OK, last week's episode of Arrow was the best one they've ever done. How are they going to be able to top themselves?
By bringing back a big guest star: John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn! So how will his return to Starling City effect Thea, who will be reeling from the big death?  "In many, many ways," Willa Holland previews of how Malcolm's presence will impact Thea. "I don't want to give too many spoilers, but Merlyn's coming back is definitely going to take her down a path and it's going to be a dark and gloomy path." Bonus: Holland teases the final episodes of the reason will be "bringing up some really good DC Comics" storylines.

Link to the full article:Spoiler Chat: Scoop on The Vampire Diaries, The Big Bang Theory, True Blood, Arrow and More | E! Online

Arrow: Five spoilers from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez

Here's some scoop on Arrow from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez's The Spoiler Room column, which was posted on 10/14/13.



‘ARROW’: FIVE SCOOPS! 
Enjoy the season premiere of Arrow? So did I! And if you’re anything like me, the episode left you hungry for more. So here are some teases to whet your appetite.

Vertigo returns. Arrow is far from done protecting Starling City from one of the most dangerous drugs around, says Haynes. But the reappearance of Vertigo will also mean the return of some of Roy Harper’s skeletons. “Vertigo comes back into the storyline this season and that could set up a possible appearance from somebody from Roy’s past, which, in a way it does with the character Sin (Bex Taylor-Klaus),” he reveals. “[Sin] starts to make Thea a little curious about what happened in their past, and she’s definitely a big part of helping Roy and Thea grow closer…you’ve got to break them apart a bit to make them grow stronger.”
John Barrowman’s return as the Dark Archer: Not what you might think. News of John Barrowman’s return sent fans clamoring to Speculation City, and exec producer Marc Guggenheim wouldn’t have it any other way. “We said at Comic-Con that John was coming back — but we didn’t say when and we didn’t say how. So, I’m going to continue to not spoil that. But I will remind everybody that you know we tell stories in two different time periods — we’re actually doing an episode where Oliver sort of has hallucinations, we’re doing flashbacks from different people’s perspectives,” he says. “OK, I’ll make a joke — we’ve got a lot of different arrows in our quiver. So just because you think you may know something doesn’t mean that you know how it’s going to happen.”
Barry Allen/Flash (Grant Gustin) — will he anger Olicity shippers? Haynes was happy to report that he quickly got along with new cast member Grant Gustin (they bonded  over IKEA, in case you were wondering), but there’s one segment of folks who may not be so happy about the arrival of Barry Allen. Namely, Olicity fans. “I know his chemistry with Emily [Rickards] is electric,” says Haynes. “Olicity shippers are going to be in for a little rude awakening this season. I don’t know if they’re going to get what they want.”
Another death? Are you — like Oliver and Co. — still reeling from the death of Tommy? Then you better brace yourself. “I would say there is one more fatality that is coming up,” Guggenheim says.
Summer Glau reveal coming. We met her in the season premiere, but there’s still much for the audience to learn about Summer Glau’s Isabel Rochev. “She has a surprising connection to the Queen family, which will be revealed in episode 8,” teases EP Andrew Kreisberg. “She’s not an adversary for the Arrow, she’s really an adversary for Oliver.”

Link to the full article:'Bones,' 'Arrow,' 'NCIS,' and 'Vampire Diaries' scoop in Spoiler Room | Inside TV | EW.com

Arrow: Scoop on an upcoming death from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Arrow from this week's (Posted on 5/7/13) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Please, tell me John Barrowman doesn’t die by the end of Arrow Season 1! I mean, he’s immortal, right? —Judith
Ausiello: Let’s just say I’m reserving a spot in our May Sweeps Scorecard under fatalities for a character on Arrow and leave it at that, K?

Link to the full article:‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Finale: Is Someone Dying? Plus: ‘Glee’ Spoilers in Ask Ausiello - TVLine

Scandal: Scoop on John Barrowman's role in episode 2x21 "Any Questions?" and Jake related scoop from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Scandal from this week's (Posted on 5/7/13) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: It’s my birthday over here and a great gift would be scoop on the Scandal finale. But anything Scandal is greatly accepted. —Mateo
Ausiello: How about details on John Barrowman’s top-secret May 9 guest stint? According to Shonda Rhimes, the Arrow baddie plays “a fixer” with a “very interesting” client. Bonus (b-day) Scoop: Joe Morton’s character/Jake’s boss does have a name: Rowan!

Link to the full article:‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Finale: Is Someone Dying? Plus: ‘Glee’ Spoilers in Ask Ausiello - TVLine

Arrow: Tommy and Malcolm related scoop and Laurel related scoop on the season 1 finale from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Arrow from this week's (Posted on 4/23/13) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Will Tommy discover his father’s Dark Archer identity on Arrow before the season ends? —Jacob
Ausiello: Barrowman was a skosh more forthcoming about that. “He’s desperate to tell Tommy,” shares the actor. “But anytime he goes to do it, something happens. We already had one of those moments when Malcolm was almost assassinated in his office. But I’m sure there will be others.” Speaking of the finale, Annie Ilonzeh (Charlie’s Angels) is confirmed to return in the May 15 season ender, as Laurel’s colleague Joanna. “We’re very excited to have her back,” says EP Andrew Kreisberg. “She’s a big part of the Arrow family.”

Link to the full article:‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Finale: Meredith’s Baby and More Spoilers in Ask Ausiello - TVLine

Scandal: Scoop on John Barrowman's guest appearance on the show from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Scandal from this week's (Posted on 4/23/13) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Today is my birthday—the best present ever would be some juicy Scandal scoop. —Miranda
Ausiello: How about exclusive details on John Barrowman’s mysterious May 9 guest stint, directly from the actor himself? “I can say absolutely nothing,” the Arrow baddie maintains of his appearance. “All I can say is I’m in Scandal. It is so top-secret.” Curses. Um… how about some behind-the-scenes intel, JB? “It was some of the hardest stuff I’ve ever done,” Barrowman confesses. “I realized again how frightening some things were to do. I was very nervous, but thank god everyone was on my side because I had a very difficult time getting through that day.” A major factor contributing to his fragile emotional state was exhaustion. Recalling his first day on the Scandal set, “I finished filming Arrow at 1 am, went to the [Vancouver] airport for a 4 am check-in, got on a flight [to Los Angeles] at 6 am, got to the set of Scandal at 9 am and started shooting at 11:30 am. I was completely stressed out and tired.”

Link to the full article:‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Finale: Meredith’s Baby and More Spoilers in Ask Ausiello - TVLine

Scandal: Enlists John Barrowman for Guest Stint-TVLine

According to TVLine's Michael Ausiello, John Barrowman will be guest-starring in an upcoming episode of Scandal. Here's an excerpt from the article:

“John Barrowman is here working today at Scandal,” Rhimes wrote. “Life is good.”

Rhimes didn’t reveal any further details about Barrowman’s character. Sources, meanwhile, confirm he’ll appear in this season’s penultimate episode on Thursday, May 9.

Barrowman had a role in Rhimes’ ill-fated ABC period drama pilot Gilded Lilys.

Link to the full article:‘Scandal’ Casts John Barrowman in Season 2 - TVLine



My thoughts: I've never watched the show Torchwood, so I can't comment on John Barrowman's acting on that show, but I loved him on Desperate Housewives,  and I thought that he was great on Arrow, so I'm definitely very excited about this news. That being said, I have to say that it kind of bugs me that Shonda Rhimes and the other producers have been very secretive about a lot of the guest-star roles on Scandal this season. On the other hand, the producers' tendency to be very secretive about the show's guest-stars has led to some very surprising moments on the show, especially when it comes to Scott Foley and his character, Jake, so I definitely kind of enjoy being surprised by the writers. Scandal has really been on fire this season, both creatively and in the ratings, so I'm sure that whatever happens with John Barrowman's character, it will be very exciting. If you're not already watching Scandal, then you definitely need to start watching the show immediately, because Scandal is a truly amazing show.

Arrow: Scoop on the season finale from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez

Here's some scoop on Arrow from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez's The Spoiler Room column, which was posted on 3/13/13.

‘ARROW’ FINALE DISH

How great was Arrow’s Paley panel this weekend? (If you missed it, you suck. Kidding! You can watch it here.) But before the event, Spoiler Room hit the red carpet for some scoop on the finale that executive producer Marc Guggenheim says will find the conflict between Arrow/Oliver (Stephen Amell) and John Barrowman’s Merlyn coming to a big climax.


“John Barrowman’s character is incredibly large in the finale end game,” he revealed. “He’s basically been our big bet of the year. Things are really going to come to a head between him and the Arrow — and him and Oliver. And Tommy will fall in the center of it.”

The idea, explained Guggenheim, was to set up the show’s second season while giving the first part of this story a proper conclusion. “The arc that Oliver goes on in season 2 really is set up by the finale. Everything that happens in the finale creates a sense of closure. You definitely feel like a chapter is ending, but it sets up everything that we’re planning,” he said.

Amell, meanwhile, admits he has not read the season finale script yet, but offered up a juicy tease in exchange: “We have a flashback coming up that goes way back,” he says.

Link to the full article:'Big Bang Theory,' 'Supernatural,' and more Spoiler Room | Inside TV | EW.com

Arrow: Malcolm Merlyn related scoop on the second half of season 1 from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez

Here's some scoop on Arrow from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez's The Spoiler Room column, which was posted on 12/17/12.

Sandra, I LOVED LOVED LOVED the reveal with John Barrowman at the end of Arrow’s midseason finale. Any hints about what’s next for the Dark Archer? — Kevin
Well, I can tell you he’s definitely back when we return and is around throughout the season. As for what’s in store, Barrowman says he’d love to see a little Merlyn backstory take center stage before season’s end. “I would love to go back to see where this all started, why it all happened and go into flashbacks,” he says. “That’s one thing I know works in this genre and in this type of program — when you do go back to find out why you are where you are at a given moment in time, where you have come from, and what has caused it. Backstory is beautiful. I love a beautiful backstory.”

Link to the full article:'NCIS,' 'How I Met Your Mother,' 'Dallas,' 'White Collar': Spoilers | Inside TV | EW.com

John Barrowman Joins Gilded Lilys--ABC Drama Pilot-TVLine

According to TVLine's Michael Ausiello, John Barrowman has joined the cast of the Gilded Lily's pilot for ABC, which is being executive produced by the creator of Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes. Here's an excerpt from the article, which gives some more details on the potential series:


To be penned by K.J. Steinberg (The Nine, Gossip Girl), Lilys is set in 1895 and promises to deliver an epic love story, a vicious rivalry and a scandalous secret unfolding against the backdrop of the opening of New York’s first luxury hotel. Barrowman will play a member of the show’s central family, the Lilys.

The news was first reported by TVGuide.com.

The cast also includes Blythe Danner, Matt Lauria, Sarah Bolger and Madeline Zima.


Link to the full article:John Barrowman Joins Gilded Lilys -- ABC Drama Pilot



My thoughts: I wasn't planning on posting casting news for pilots since I don't know if a lot of people would read posts on pilots since they aren't established shows that a lot of people know about and track on Twitter, but I decided to post this news because out of all the pilots for potential TV shows for next fall, this is definitely the most interesting TV show pilot that I've read about so far for a number of reasons: I'm a huge fan of Shonda Rhimes' work on Grey's Anatomy; K.J. Steinberg has written several of my all-time favorite episodes of Gossip Girl; I love things that involve romance; I love TV shows that are time period dramas, such as Mad Men; last, but not least I'm a huge fan of John Barrowman and Blythe Danner. If Gilded Lilys goes to series, I'll definitely be watching it. :)